Recession Busters: Get your restaurant deals right here
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The recession is taking a big bite out of L.A. restaurant business -- read more here. Yet there is an upside: There are so many restaurant deals going on right now (yes, thank the economy), it’s tough to keep track of them. So we’ve compiled a list of running bargains -- prix-fixe meals, especially happy happy hours, discounts and specials. If you’d like to keep us posted about ongoing or upcoming restaurant deals, please e-mail food@latimes.com.
Ammo
“Simple Supper Menu”: Available Monday through Thursday (and Fridays and Saturdays before 7 p.m.), three courses for $30: your choice of soup or salad; citrus marinated jidori half chicken with cabbage fennel salad, Oro Blanco grapefruit, pickled red onions and pistachios, or poached Scottish salmon with beets, peewee potatoes, arugula and Meyer lemon, or house-made pappardelle with dandelion greens and pancetta; and build-your-own sundae.
1155 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, (323) 871-2666, www.ammocafe.com.
The Bazaar by José Andrés at the SLS Hotel
The restaurant has extended its DineLA Restaurant Week offer indefinitely: four courses for $45 per person. First course: jamón serrano with “Catalan style” toasted bread with tomato and olive oil or “organized Caesar salad” with quail eggs and Parmesan cheese; second course: “croquetas” (chicken and bechamel fritters) or “not your everyday Caprese salad” (cherry tomatoes and liquid mozzarella); third course: sautéed shrimp with garlic and guindilla pepper or hanger steak with piquillo pepper confit; fourth course: traditional Spanish flan with fresh cheese and fruit or assorted bonbons.
465 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 247-0400, www.thebazaar.com.
Blue on Blue
“Blue on Bistro”: A new “wallet-friendly” menu features an 8-ounce sirloin steak with roasted dates, barley, thyme brown butter and Brussels sprouts for $21, half a dozen Kumamoto oysters for $18 and orecchiette pasta with grilled salmon, pancetta and spinach for $18. Plus valet parking is free, there’s no corkage fee on Wednesdays and a “Kick the Blues” happy hour offers $8 small plates (or three for $20) and a weekly selection $8 beer, wine and specialty cocktails (3 to 7 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and on Thursdays from 3 to 10 p.m.).
9400 W. Olympic Blvd. at Avalon Hotel, Beverly Hills, (310) 277-5221, www.avalonbeverlyhills.com.
Boa, Katana and Sushi Roku
“Appetite Stimulus Menu”: Sunday to Thursday, the Innovative Dining Group offers dinner specials starting at $25.
Boa Steakhouse: Three courses for $40 per person (for example, smoked salmon and caviar and filet mignon medallions). 101 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 899-4466. 8462 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 650-8383.
Sushi Roku: Three courses for $30 per person (Kobe beef tataki and a selection of sushi or jidori chicken teriyaki plus dessert). At Sushi Roku Pasadena, it’s three courses for $25 per person. 1401 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, (310) 458-4771. 8445 W. 3rd St., West Hollywood, (323) 655-6767. 33 Miller Alley, Pasadena, (626) 683-3000.
Katana: Four courses for $35 per person (such as albacore tataki, robatayaki and sushi). 8439 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 650-8585. www.innovativedining.com.
Bond Street
Prix-fixe tasting menu: Offered every night except Saturday, a five-course tasting menu for $44 includes spicy tuna on crispy rice and spicy king crab crispy rice; Fuji apple and artichoke salad; miso cod or New York strip steak; a selection of sushi; and Fuji apple sorbet with Fuji apple soup and Fuji apple chips. There’s a happy hour in the lounge Monday to Friday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. with a menu of seven appetizers for $7 and seven cocktails for $7.
9360 Wilshire Blvd. at the Thompson Hotel, Beverly Hills, (310) 601-2255, www.bondstrestaurant.com.
Cafe Wa s
“Bottomless Wine Carafe”: For $15 per person, carafes of wine (red or white) are “bottomless,” all night every night.
1521 N. Vine St., Hollywood, (323) 466-5400, www.cafewas.com.
Campanile
“Family Dinner”: On Monday nights, a family-style feast is laid out for $45 per person (a recent example: braised beef cheeks, mussels marinara and, for dessert, currant shortcake with berry compote).
“Soup Kitchen”: Every Wednesday, a three-course menu is available for $22 per person (a recent example: soup du jour, your choice of coq au vin or grilled trout with butternut squash risotto cakes, and homemade ice cream).
624 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 938-1447, www.campanilerestaurant.com.
Comme Ça
“9:58”: At 9:58 p.m. each night, a cocktail menu of drinks priced at $9.58 goes into effect. Burgers are $9.58 too. On the 9:58 drinks menu: Manhattan, Sazerac, Negroni, Fitzroy, the Gilded Rose, the Last Word, white Russian, sloe gin fizz and the Metropole.
8479 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 782-1104, www.commecarestaurant.com.
Darren’s
Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday deals: On Mondays, the half-price bar menu is offered all night (in the bar area only). On Tuesdays, a three-course prix-fixe menu is $35. And on Wednesdays, there is no corkage fee and all wines by the glass are half off with the purchase of an entree.
1141 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach, (310) 802-1973, www.darrensrestaurant.com.
The Foundry on Melrose
“Bluesy Tuesday”: On Tuesdays from 8 to 10 p.m. in the lounge, chef Eric Greenspan dishes up his take on Southern food — fried chicken (priced by the piece) and waffles ($4), sides of creamed corn, grits, and greens ($5), green tomatoes ($5) and corn bread pudding ($7).
“Scotch & Song Sundays”: Starting at 8 p.m. on Sundays, complimentary scotch tastings are accompanied by live music from local singer-songwriters.
7465 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 651-0915, www.thefoundryonmelrose.com.
Il Grano
“Rustic Tuesdays”: On Tuesdays, chef Sal Marino explores a different region of Italy, with a menu of dishes priced at $9 to $16 — such as mozzarella in carosa (breaded mozzarella with capers) for $9 and eggplant parmigiana for $16.
“Bob’s lunch”: Three courses of soup or salad, a daily pasta or meat special, and a light tiramisu for $16. Also, “Sal’s lunch”: For $19, a salad, pasta or seafood course, plus housemade gelato.
11359 Santa Monica Blvd., West Los Angeles, (310) 477-7886.
Jar
“Mozzarella Mondays”: The Monday night mozzarella menu features dishes from $9 to $12, such as burrata with braised artichoke hearts, currants and olive oil for $11 and mozzarella with a selection of Armandino Batali’s salumi for $12.
8225 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 655-6566, www.thejar.com.
Joe’s Restaurant
“Joe’s Economic Stimulus Package”: A prix-fixe dinner menu is $45 for three courses. For example, start with Marcona almond-crusted Sainte-Maure goat cheese with watercress and pomegranate gastrique; then have braised lamb shank with snap peas, baby turnips, fingerling potatoes and barbecue lamb jus; finish with dark chocolate tart with pink peppercorn ice cream.
1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, (310) 399-5811. www.joesrestaurant.com.
Mark’s Restaurant
“Dish It Out”: Mark’s is now offering its Monday night half-off menu five nights a week (Sunday through Thursday). Appetizers (fried green tomatoes, sesame fried calamari, tuna sashimi) start at $5, and mains (turkey meatloaf, roast chicken) start at $11.
861 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 652-5252, www.marksrestaurant.com.
Marty D’s Dogs & Desserts
Guild card discount: Marty D’s extends special relief to cash-strapped members of the Screen Actors Guild, the Writers Guild, the Directors Guild and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Until further notice, members of these organizations presenting a guild or membership card will receive a 15% discount.
230 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 273-7771, www.martyds.com.
One Pico at Shutters on the Beach
“Champagne Wednesdays”: Each Wednesday in the Lobby Lounge from 5 p.m. to midnight, flights of five Champagnes along with hors d’oeuvres — such as Canard-Duchêne Brut paired with duck prosciutto and fig marmalade or Henriot Blanc Souverain paired with Charentais melon, blue cheese and pickled cherry — from chef Michael Reardon are $30 per person (Champagne only is $25 per person).
1 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 458-1717, www.shuttersonthebeach.com.
One Sunset
“Tuesday Tastings”: On Tuesdays, $45 buys you five courses from the carte du jour, such as truffled mac ’n’ cheese, cheeseburgers, carrot-honey ravioli and lobster-shrimp-goat cheese ravioli. And for every two guests, you can purchase a bottle of wine for $1.
“Party Like a Rock Star Dinner and a Bottle”: Thursday to Saturday, One Sunset offers a three-course $35 prix-fixe menu; bottles of Belvedere vodka are half price. Appetizers include spicy tuna tartar, Thai spicy shrimp salad, buffalo chicken lettuce cups and lobster quesadillas; entree choices include porcini-potato ravioli, seared Maine scallops, steak frites, the signature “bad ass” cheeseburger. Plus dessert.
8730 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 657-0111, www.the1group.com.
Ortolan
“Nibbles Menu”: Chef Christophe Émé introduces a new limited nibbles menu for the bar and lounge with seasonal favorites and chef specials from $6 to $13. For example, short ribs with potato soufflé, asparagus with cappuccino and Parmesan, and salmon with lemon grass and ponzu.
8338 W. 3rd St., West Hollywood, (323) 653-3300, www.ortolanrestaurant.com.
Palate Food & Wine
“Sunday Supper”: Three courses for $35 per person from a set menu (that it recently included beet salad with blood oranges and chickpeas; short ribs with horseradish crème fraîche or pan-fried local halibut; and chocolate pudding).
933 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, (818) 662-9463, www.palatefoodwine.com.
Patina Restaurant Group
No corkage fee: The restaurant group recently announced it is lifting all corkage fees from its Los Angeles locations through 2009, except for at Patina downtown. For locations, see www.patinarestaurantgroup.com.
Rush Street
“Rush Hour Premium Happy Hour”: Premium liquor and draft beer for $5 from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday (well drinks are $3). DJ upstairs.
9546 Washington Blvd., Culver City, (310) 837-9546, www.rushstreetculvercity.com.
STK
“Wine Down Sundays”: Select bottles of wine and wines by the glass are 50% off on Sundays.
755 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 659-3535, www.stkhouse.com.
South
“Recession Thursdays”: On Thursdays from 5 p.m. to midnight, $1 grilled cheese sandwiches (with potato chips), $2 pulled pork, chicken or beef brisket sandwiches (with chips). Happy hour ’til midnight includes $2 “mystery shots.”
All-you-can-eat ribs: Mondays from 5 to 10 p.m., for $12, all-you-can-eat ribs.
3001 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 828-9988, www.southsantamonica.com.
Spitz
“Sangria Saturdays and Sundays”: From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and all day Sunday, $3 sangrias. Happy hour is Monday to Friday from 3 to 7 p.m.: $3 Paulander and Stone, $4 Craftsman, $4 sangria and $1 pita strips.
371 E. 2nd St., Los Angeles, (213) 613-0101, www.eatatspitz.com.
Tower Bar
“Family-Style Fried Chicken Dinner”: Every Sunday and Monday, for $25 per person, chef Janice Alexander presents platters of fried chicken, served with a large green salad, mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, with warm chocolate cake for dessert. A menu of wine and beer specials is also available.
8358 Sunset Blvd. at the Sunset Tower Hotel, West Hollywood, (323) 848-6677, www.sunsettowerhotel.com.
The Veranda Room at Hotel Casa del Mar
“Sunset Happy Hour”: Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Veranda Room, glasses of California sparklers such as Mumm Napa Cuvee Rose (NV) and Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc (NV) are $7. A sushi sampler of tuna, shrimp and salmon nigiri and California rolls is also $7.
1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, (310) 581-5533, www.hotelcasadelmar.com.
West Restaurant & Lounge
Value menus include a lunch special of two courses for $20 and a dinner special of three courses for $30 (between 6 and 7:30 p.m.). Starter options are soup or salad of the day, and main courses include bucatini, grilled chicken or pan-seared salmon.
170 N. Church Lane, at the top of the Hotel Angeleno, Los Angeles, (310) 476-6411, www.westatangeleno.com.
Valentino
Vin Bar menu: Valentino’s less-formal wine bar offers three courses for $35 — crudo, culatello, handmade pastas in primi, or small-plate, format.
3115 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 829-4313, www.valentinorestaurantgroup.com.
-- Betty Hallock
Updated April 6: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that Ammo’s ‘Simple Supper Menu’ was available nightly before 7 p.m. It is available all evening Monday through Thursday, and before 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
